Dinner at Noah's - a grand finale to Restaurant Week

On a crisp, sunny Saturday in early spring, what better way to start an evening out than with a stop at a brand new tasting room. My husband and I met up with two close friends to check out the grand opening of the Sherwood House tasting room in Jamesport. It was incredibly unique!

Upon walking through the main doors, the antique collections set the tone for the comforting feel surrounded by wood floors, a fireplace and smooth-carved pine tasting bar. It had a welcoming atmosphere with a variety of cozy spots to hideaway with a bottle of wine and some artisan cheeses. The carefully crafted ideas of the owner and the team were apparent in all of the details.

And the wine? Top of the line. We tasted the Blanc de Blanc sparkling, the 2002 Merlot and the 2005 Sherwood Manor blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Each one was amazing. Although I am a huge fan of the 2002 Long Island vintage, the red blend was my favorite with rich, bold notes of dark fruit and chocolate that changed with each sip. We spent some time with the winemaker, Gilles Martin. He recommended the flavorful blend to me as he knew that tends to be my favorite no matter where I go!

From the beautiful Sherwood House in Jamesport, we made our way east to Greenport where we had a reservation at the new hot spot - Noah's. I had been looking forward to trying the innovative dishes on Noah Schwartz' menu. Plus, it was the closing of Hamptons Restaurant Week and we were still able to take advantage of the great prices.

We were impressed with the modern yet romantic air that the restaurant presented. Even down to the ornamental bowl of flames that greet you at the host podium. I'm a believer in fire - with candles everywhere you cannot go wrong. Noah's small tables were simple and white yet the blue cobalt votive in the center made all the difference.

Our fare was delicious and prepared extraordinarily.

What I selected for dinner:

• Roasted beet salad with goat cheese and citrus vinaigrette; duck confit over lentils; and a warm flourless chocolate cake with almond brittle and vanilla ice cream. I chose to start with Sterling Organic Sauvignon Blanc (California) for my salad and moved on to Long Island's Castello di Borghese's 2006 Cabernet Franc with my main course.

I was very pleased with all of my choices. Each was refreshing and yet comfortably filling. Both wines were perfect pairings and the decadent dessert was heavenly.

What my husband selected for dinner:

• Long Island clam chowder; fish & chips; and key lime pie. He drank the same wines.

His courses were very interesting as well with certain herbs flavoring the chowder that were different than chowders we are accustomed to but were complementary. The pieces of fish were huge and were served on a bed of fresh cut french fries. The key lime had a creaminess to it that went well with the graham cracker bottom. It was a palette cleansing finish.

Our evening out was truly a grand finale to Hamptons Restaurant Week and a very enjoyable dining experience. Congratulations to Sherwood House owner, Barbara Smithen and Chef Noah. Both spots have proven to be off to a very successful start.